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My Chemistry Tutor > Ask Chemistry Homework Questions > Organic Chemistry > Biological Reduction of Ketones

Biological Reduction of Ketones

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Author Topic: Biological Reduction of Ketones  (Read 1051 times)
kyle1990
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« on: May 20, 2009, 11:32:26 AM »
This mechanism was pulled directly from my text. The irrelevant portion of the molecule is faded out. The question is this: why is the one ketone on acetoacetyl ACP reduced and the other is not? I know that biological reactions are highly specific, but is it possible for the other ketone to be reduced instead?
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"Theories are nets cast to catch what we call 'the world': to rationalize, to explain, and to master it. We endeavor to make the mesh ever finer and finer."
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chrisf
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« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2009, 03:30:16 PM »
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I'll look over that tonight, have a few things to do this afternoon. I'm guessing that the reduction favors some stereo-specific product over another.
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chrisf
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« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2009, 06:16:46 PM »
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I can't find anything specific in my book as it doesn't cover too much bio-chemistry but there are a lot of articles about "stereo-specific metabolic reduction of ketones" on the Internet.

So, I'd have to concur with my previous assumption that the reduction favors a stereo-specific product. To answer your question.. I'd imagine both ketones actually get reduced, but one is heavily favored.
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kyle1990
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« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2009, 10:04:28 PM »
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Thanks Chris-I appreciate it.
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"Theories are nets cast to catch what we call 'the world': to rationalize, to explain, and to master it. We endeavor to make the mesh ever finer and finer."
-Karl Popper
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